Chicago Bears: 15 greatest running backs of all time

The career of Roland Harper was quite incredible. Guys like this do not come around very often anymore. For starters, Harper played a hybrid role where he could have been labeled as either a fullback or a running back.

Here is the most impressive part of Harper’s career: For all eight seasons he was with the Bears, he played next to a guy by the name of Walter Payton.

Yep, you read that correctly. It’s not every day you can make a name for yourself while also sharing time with arguably the best to ever do it — at the same position, nonetheless.

Today’s NFL features some pretty impressive duos. Back in 2017, you had the likes of Alvin Kamara and Mark Ingram Jr. finishing as one of the best tandems the NFL has ever seen. But, when you’re talking about trying to take playing time away from one of the greats? That’s downright incredible.

Harper’s best year came in 1978. First, allow me to point out that Payton rushed for a total of 1,395 yards and 11 touchdowns over that season. Harper, though, was able to rack up 992 yards and six scores.

Despite playing second fiddle for most of his career, Harper still sits ninth on the Bears all-time rushing list with 3,044 yards on the ground and 15 touchdowns.

Oh, yeah — the one thing I forgot to mention…Harper was drafted in the 17th and final round of the 1975 NFL Draft. For those counting, that is pick No. 420 overall — four hundred and twenty!

We think it’s impressive when a seventh-round pick or undrafted free agent makes a name for himself in the league today. Imagine being so far under the radar that you’re labeled the 420th best player in your draft class, end up being drafted by a team featuring Walter Payton and you go on to make people remember your name.

Harper was special — people need to remember that.